BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2213

By: Frullo

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, food banks in Texas saw dramatically increased demand for food assistance. In response, the Department of State Health Services waived inspection requirements for the slaughtering and processing of exotic animal meat for donation to food banks to help increase the supply of food available for distribution. H.B. 2213 seeks to make this policy permanent.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2213 amends the Health and Safety Code to exempt from the inspection requirements of the Texas Meat and Poultry Inspection Act the slaughtering or the preparation and transportation in intrastate commerce of an exotic game animal of a species not indigenous to Texas exclusively for donation by a hunter to a nonprofit food bank to the same extent that the slaughter, preparation, and transportation of livestock for personal use of the livestock's owner, family member, or nonpaying guest is exempted.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.